File photo of a pumpjack in an Alberta field. (ImagineGolf/E+/Getty Images)

Alberta gives oil and gas drillers municipal tax break

Reuters — Struggling oil and gas companies in Alberta will get a three-year break on municipal property taxes for land where they are drilling wells or building pipelines, the provincial government said on Monday. The Alberta government said it would also lower property tax assessments on less-productive wells and eliminate a provincial tax on drills.

(Video screengrab from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

Federal fund, Alberta government back irrigation upgrades

Infrastructure Bank lends cash for system improvements

Eight irrigation districts in Alberta are set to tap into the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s new $1.5 billion pool of funding earmarked for irrigation, to receive loans worth about $407.5 million. The Alberta and federal governments on Friday announced a total investment of $815 million — including repayable CIB funds, provincial support and irrigation district contributions


Lower cattle supplies supportive for prices

Lower cattle supplies supportive for prices

Pastures remain in good condition, pre-empting the fall run

Prices have been strong for butcher and feeder cattle, supported mainly by low numbers of cattle heading to auction in Manitoba. The expected fall run has been delayed by unseasonably warm temperatures across most of Manitoba, as pastures have remained in good condition. “Because we’ve had good fall weather, that’s kept cattle out on pasture

There are still localized feed shortages in pockets of the province but timely rains later in the summer seem to have taken the edge off of feed shortages that have dogged cattle producers the past two seasons.

Hay prices run ahead of demand

After two years of running very lean, Manitoba’s feed supply is back from the brink

Forage sellers may be aiming too high amid a softening hay market, according to a recent Hay Relief report from the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). “The producers that I’ve talked to who are looking at selling and/or buying hay are kind of finding that there’s not a lot of people buying hay right


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Second Seeds Canada merger vote to proceed sans CSGA

Seed Growers membership had voted against amalgamation deal

A proposal to combine Canada’s seed industry groups into a single organization, to be dubbed Seeds Canada, will be subject to a new vote, this time with one less group on board. The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced

Manitoba harvest progress at 88 per cent, soybeans see rapid progress

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for October 6

Southwest Region Sunny and dry weather dominated last week in the Southwest region, with one or two cloudy and windy days. Many producers have finished their harvest and doing some fall fertilizer application and other fieldwork. Some districts have inadequate topsoil moisture, which is making tillage challenging, as well as for fall anhydrous ammonia applications.


File photo of Diefenbaker Lake in southern Saskatchewan. (IanChrisGraham/iStock/Getty Images)

Federal irrigation pledge seen flowing mainly to Prairies

Infrastructure plan also includes promised broadband support

Prairie provinces will receive the bulk of Ottawa’s $1.5 billion commitment to support irrigation projects, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday launched a three-year, $10 billion infrastructure plan aimed at five different sectors, including agriculture. The $1.5 billion is expected to result in 700,000 acres of irrigated land.

Cattle producers have lofty new goals in the run-up to 2030.

Beef sector aims for new 2030 targets

The beef operation of 2030 will have a smaller environmental footprint,better grazing ecosystems and greater efficiency

The Canadian beef industry has new benchmarks to strive for in the next decade. The organizations involved in Canada’s National Beef Strategy — the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada Beef Breeds Council, Beef Cattle Research Council, Canada Beef, The National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Meat Council and Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef — have announced a


Manitoba harvest 80 per cent complete, weather conditions favourable

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for September 29

Southwest Region Mostly cloudy and some rainy weather last week in the Southwest region. Between 5 to 15mm rain fell in different areas of the region but strong winds allowed for rapid drying. Areas in the southwest corner of the region are reporting shortages of water for livestock due to lack of a substantial rain

Area producers in many cases can finish their own cattle, but they’d have a hard time finding someone to process it, according to two local beef producers.

Legal on-farm slaughter a potential boon for producers

Scale-appropriate regulation may benefit remote communities, create an entry point to direct market meat

Legalizing on-farm slaughter of livestock would be more humane, benefit remote communities and beef up producers’ bottom line, say two Manitoba producers. Recent regulatory changes in Alberta are “exactly what we’re looking for,” said Ian Thorleifson, president of the Manitoba Elk Growers Association. On July 29, Alberta announced changes to slaughter regulations which included the creation of an on-farm slaughter operation licence. The licence